Newsletter n. 4

Etna - Photo by Boris Behncke

Summary

  • Status of the IMPROVE Project;
  • Third Specialized Short Course in Granada, Spain;
  • Fifth Specialized Short Course in Munich, Germany;
  • Fourth Network School in Potsdam, Germany;
  • Fourth/sixth Specialized Short Course in Pontedera (Pisa), Italy;
  • Double prestigious awards for the IMPROVE ESR Giulio Bini;
  • Digital Training Modules;
  • Upcoming Event.

Flipbook | pdf

IMPROVE-EPOS-KMT workshop on science-industry cooperation

Krafla

IMPROVE, EPOS (European Plate Observing System), and the KMT (Krafla Magma Testbed) project are co-organizing a workshop in Dublin on November 21-22, 2024, to foster collaboration between science and industry in the field of high-temperature and near-magma geosciences.

External attendees are welcome. To register, please click below.

 

A block of rooms has been reserved at a discounted rate for guests attending the workshop. For info, please click below:
https://bookings.claytonhotels.com/offer/burlington-road/DIAS-IMPROVEWorkshop

Fourth and six Specialized Short Course

SSC#4-6: Improve: Geochemical And Geophysical Methods For Volcano Monitoring And Geothermal Exploration

September 30 – October 3 | WestSystems Pontedera (PI)

To register, send an email to giulio.bini@ingv.it

Deadline for registration: 1 September, 2024.

Due to organizational constraints there may be a maximum number of participants allowed besides the IMPROVE participants, on a first come – first serve basis.

 

Double prestigious awards for the IMPROVE ESR Giulio Bini

Giulio bini
Giulio Bini

Giulio Bini, IMPROVE Early Stage Researcher, has been double-honored. In July 2023 he was awarded the Silver Medal of ETH Zurich for his outstanding doctoral thesis entitled “Interpreting the dynamics of magmatic-hydrothermal systems using the chemistry of gas emissions: the case of the Nisyros caldera (Aegean Arc, Greece)”. One year after, in July 2024, during the 2nd Congress of the Italian Geochemical Society at Perugia, Italy, Giulio received the Tonani Award of the Italian Geochemical Society (SOGEI) for the Best Doctoral Thesis in Applied Geochemistry.

Winning the Tonani Award – said Giulio Bini – for the best doctoral thesis in Applied Geochemistry is an honor, not only because of the prestige of the Italian Geochemical Society (SOGEI) but also because it validates years of dedicated research.

My thesis focused on interpreting the dynamics of magmatic-hydrothermal systems using the chemistry of gas emissions, which I believe addresses some key challenges in the volcanology field today. Clear increases in magmatic gases during unrest periods suggest that outgassing occurs in episodic bursts. These episodes are not always tied to eruptions or mafic magma recharge in the upper-crust, but can be triggered by fluid accumulation from magma evolution or earthquakes. The permeability increase in the crust triggered by earthquakes can also favor magmatic outgassing from evolved upper-crustal reservoirs at high-crystallinity.

These findings are valuable for monitoring volcanoes during both quiescence and unrest, and for understanding the physical state of shallow magma reservoirs. This recognition fuels my passion for advancing geochemical research and underscores the importance of applied geochemistry for understanding how volcanoes behave. I’m deeply grateful for this award and the support from my mentors and colleagues throughout this journey.

The first IMPROVE magazine article has been published

First MPROVE magazine

A direct link to the article is: https://issuu.com/euresearcher/docs/improve_eur38_h_res and can be cited as “Papale, P., Davoli, R., Maaß, R. (2024). Beneath the surface for new volcano imaging systemsEU Research, Summer 2024 vol. (38), pp. 28 – 29″. It can be disseminated under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence. Thanks to all ESRs, and, in particular, to Regina Maaß and Roberto Davoli who contributed more directly.

Fourth Network School – Multi-facet Science: data, models, infrastructure, industry and communication

Potsdam, Germany – 28 – 31 May 2024

The Marie Sklodowska-Curie European Training Network “Innovative Multi-disciplinary European Research training network on VolcanoEs” (MSCA-ETN IMPROVE) is a project funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme. In IMPROVE, 15 Early Stage Researchers are trained to innovative research in volcano science extending across the academia-industry bridge, and including cooperative work, leadership skills, and independent thinking. Volcano science includes from innovative monitoring and prospecting to advanced lab experiments, High Performance Computing, and Artificial Intelligence.

Key training elements

The understanding of sources in Earth processes requires the knowledge of physical and geochemical parameters spatial distribution and their variations in time. This is for example relevant in industrial environment such as geothermal companies, where there is the need to gather knowledge on structural aspects of the geothermal reservoir and mechanisms associated with the harnessing of fluids is fundamental to optimize the heat transfer from the source for the production. The use of existing infrastructure and how to use them in scientific questions is also of importance. In the Potsdam (Germany) School, we will consider several various examples of data analysis, numerical modelling, analogical approaches, use of existing infrastructure as key elements for Science at multi-scale. One important aspect of the school will be to see how industry and small and medium enterprise use this knowledge to define industrial projects. The School will also dedicate specific topics such as project management, research leadership, good communication and career/life optimal paths.

Schedule

May 27Arrivals & Ice-breaker
May 28Multi parametric observations methods
Multi parametric modelling
May 29School trip: Discovery of multi-cultural Berlin
May 30Infrastructures and integration approaches
May 31Multi ways to transfer Science
June 1Departure

Preliminary list of teachers

Klaus Bauer, Marco Bohnhoff, Sascha Brune, Valérie Cayol, Gilda Currenti, Maryory Sarria Dulcey, Christian Haberland, Andre Kloth, Martin Lipus, Shane Murphy, Bjarni Palsson, Paul-Eric Potie, Simona Repensburg, Claudia Rey Crowie, Umberto Riccardi, Matthias Roseneau, Ute Weckman, Philipp Weis, Christopher Wollin, Josef Zens.

Target participants

PhD candidates and early stage postdocs.

School costs

Each student will pay a contribution towards the true costs. This includes ice-breaker party, lunch, coffee breaks, social dinner, school materials, and a mid-school visit of Berlin. The cost is €160,00 per participant.

REGISTRATION

Fourth Specialized Short Course: Petrophysical Properties – from the laboratory to the field and modelling

SSC#4: Short course on Petrophysical Properties

8th – 10th April 2024 | LMU

 

Newsletter n. 3

newsletter 3

Summary

  • Status of the IMPROVE Project;
  • IMPROVE Summer School in Carlingford, Ireland;
    • IMPROVE Open day in Carlingford;
  • Improve Network School on Mount Etna;
  • Multiparametric Experiment on Mount Etna.

Flipbook | pdf

Second Network School – Multiparametric Volcano Monitoring: Data Processing, Analysis and Modelling

Etna 2021

Nicolosi (Mount Etna), Italy – July 24 – 28, 2023

IMPROVE is a H2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network for the next generation of European volcanologists. Early Stage Researchers in IMPROVE are trained while developing research on quantitative volcanology, from innovative monitoring and prospecting to advanced lab experiments, High Performance Computing, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. IMPROVE organizes schools, short courses, and other training and scientific meetings open to participants from outside the network.

SCHOOL OBJECTIVES and KEY TRAINING ELEMENTS

The Etna school aims at introducing the students to the analysis of data from multiparametric volcano monitoring networks. The school is focussed on exercises and practice: frontal lessons are kept to a minimum, and they are addressed at providing the fundamental understanding necessary for a conscious use of processing tools and computational instruments which will constitute the core of the activities. The case studies will make large (but not exclusive) reference to Mount Etna, one of the most active, best monitored, most famous and most intensively investigated volcanoes in the world. The technical and scientific contents above are complemented by lessons on European standards for data management and policies, and on planning, engineering and testing new instruments for volcano monitoring.
All students are asked to bring a poster on their research activity, and present it in dedicated sessions.

SCHEDULE

July 23Arrivals (late afternoon) & ice-breaker
July 24Volcano deformation: theory and exercises
Late afternoon students’ posters & wine session.
July 25Volcano degassing: theory and exercises
Late afternoon students’ posters & wine session.
After-dinner presentation of the field excursion.
July 26Field excursion on Mount Etna.
July 27Volcano seismicity: theory and exercises
Afternoon training module on the EPOS data portal.
Late afternoon students’ posters & wine session.
July 28Final exercise: simulation of a volcanic crisis.
July 29Departures in the morning

MOUNT ETNA

Mount Etna (3357 m a.s.l.) is one of the most famous and active volcanoes in the world, and one of the most beautiful to visit and most rewarding to investigate. The eruption activity during last few decades is dominated by the formation of large lava fountains merging into sub-Plinian events with volcanic plumes reaching as high as 15 km above the crater. Quite often that summit activity is accompanied by the generation of lava flows, most of which invade the “Valle del Bove”, a huge depression on the Eastern flank of the volcano representing a major volcano-tectonic feature. Less frequent flank eruptions produce lava flows which menace, and sometimes partially destroy, villages as well as touristic installations.
The volcano monitoring system on Mount Etna is arguably the most developed in the world, with a number of permanent installations approaching 200  and  including  broad-band  seismometers, tiltmeters, dilatometers, gravimeters, GNSS, FTIR and  multi-gas  sensors, acoustic  sensors,  visible  and infra-red  cameras, integrated by satellite imagery (optical and radar) and field observations. The 24/7 volcanic control room at the INGV Etna Observatory in Catania continuously receives Tb of data which are processed in real-time, and is constantly in contact with the regional and national operational rooms of the Italian Civil Protection system.

Comitato organizzativo: Eugenio Privitera, Giuseppe Puglisi, Paolo Papale, Raffaela Pignolo.
Supporto tecnico: Massimiliano Cascone, Patrizia Pantani, Salvatore Consoli, Fabrizio Pistagna.

SCHOOL COSTS

Each student will pay a contribution to the true costs, amounting to a total of 430 euros to be payed on-site, inclusive of accommodation in double or triple room, breakfast, lunch, coffee breaks, social dinner, school materials, transfer from-to Catania airport at scheduled times, and additional transfers during the school days. The cable car to access the summit area of Mount Etna during the day of field trip costs additional 45 euros, to be payed on-site to the service-providing company.

VENUE

INGV building, Via Monti Rossi 1
NICOLOSI (CT)/